1
as in to hide
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
students at the private school were once routinely birched for violating the rules
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
always a stern disciplinarian, our father birched anyone who talked back
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of birch
Kerri Westenberg, Star Tribune, 11 Sep. 2020
Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025
Tallberg, a master forager and chef, searches the base of spruce and silver birch for chanterelle, woolly milkcap and penny buns hiding amid the moss.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for birch 
Verb
Find yellow aspen and birch along the shoreline and red maples inland.
—Kerri Westenberg, Star Tribune, 11 Sep. 2020
Noun
The Holocaust Memorial Garden consists of two granite boulders, on a bed of gravel, surrounded by a stand of birch trees.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025
Tallberg, a master forager and chef, searches the base of spruce and silver birch for chanterelle, woolly milkcap and penny buns hiding amid the moss.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for birch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for birch
Verb
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Asked about his identity and to provide authorization, Deng tried to hide his equipment and flee, prompting the officials to take him and his companions into custody.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
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When Hamas chose to go to ground inside Gaza and hide among its people, Israel followed it down, leveling the territory and its population to get at its enemy.—
Gideon Rose,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Buffy loves to groom—in other words, lick—my hair, probably as an act of dominance, according to my vet.—
Elizabeth Denton,
Allure,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Having another week off to lick wounds is pretty nice, too.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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These are characterized by temperate deciduous forest species such as tulip trees, oaks, and hickories.—
Erica Zazo,
Outside Online,
9 Jan. 2025
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Hemlock dominates the slopes of the Twenty Mile Creek valley, accompanied by hickories, red oak, black walnut, black maple, dogwood, red elder and mountain maple.—
Gary Stoller,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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News round-up Real Madrid set up El Clasico in Spain’s Supercopa by leathering Mallorca 3-0 last night.—
Phil Hay,
The Athletic,
10 Jan. 2025
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Almost from the start, Dharavi was defined by its industries: from the traditional potters of Gujarat who began arriving in the late 1800s, to leather tanners from Tamil Nadu and embroidery workers from Uttar Pradesh.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN,
29 June 2024
Verb
-
Aikman lashed out a couple of times on ESPN during the Texans-Chiefs Wild Card Game.—
Bob Raissman,
New York Daily News,
25 Jan. 2025
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Mercury has a delivery for Rachel, but the guys who have lashed the Stanfields to a couple of chairs and are interrogating them rather roughly are in the way.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The design of the Kasa Little Italy rooms is very minimalist, featuring a color palette of neutral tones and organic materials like wood and rattan.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Jan. 2025
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Add a few high-quality furniture pieces with organic rounded shapes or crafted from solid wood in natural finishes accented with woven rattan.—
Wendy Vazquez,
Southern Living,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The fire burned for five days in an isolated part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park before high winds whipped it up and swept it toward Gatlinburg.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA TODAY,
26 Jan. 2025
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The England midfielder had a shot of his own after bursting forward from midfield before whipping a free kick to Havertz, who headed over.—
Art de Roché,
The Athletic,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The first phase of the truce took effect following a three-hour delay during which Israeli warplanes and artillery pounded the Gaza Strip.—
Mohammed Salem,
USA TODAY,
20 Jan. 2025
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As Israel pounded Gaza in response Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN,
20 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Birch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/birch. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
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